SUV Review: 2013 Toyota 4Runner Limited

2013 Toyota 4Runner.

PHOTO: Handout, Paul Giamou

Big, brawny SUV is robust, but ready for an update

By Brian Harper, National Post

Originally published: January 31, 2013

SMALL

MEDIUM

LARGE

The annual early-January trek to the North American International Auto Show in Detroit is a crapshoot when it comes to guessing what the weather and, hence, the road conditions will be like. I have always erred on the side of caution — at the very least, every vehicle used for the four-hour (with luck) drive over the past 20 or so years has had either four- or all-wheel drive. And there have been times when I have fallen to my knees and given fervent thanks for the added traction when winds and snow turned the journey into a long day’s journey into hell.

This year, I went old school, courtesy of a last-minute substitution within the Toyota press fleet. What was supposed to be a Highlander — a well-regarded if somewhat conventional mid-sized crossover — turned into the big, bold and brash 4Runner, a full-sized, seven-seat truck-like sport-ute designed “to conquer the toughest weather and driving conditions on the planet,” if you take stock in Toyota’s marketing bumpf.

All of its power, size and ruggedness — including skid plates to protect the engine, fuel tank and transfer case from off-road hazards — were scarcely utilized as record high temperatures and a lot of rain eradicated virtually all traces of snow accumulated over the previous several weeks. It was probably the most tranquil ride to the auto show in a decade, but it did offer a re-acquaintance with the passé tense of sport-utes. As a holdout representative of what big-rig SUVs used to be like, the 4Runner had me appreciating the finer aspects of the latest softer-riding crossovers.

Don’t get me wrong. In the case of a zombie apocalypse requiring escape into the deep woods, I would be looting the nearest Toyota dealership for the keys to one of these bad boys. Or — perhaps less drastic — if I had to haul a really big boat (towing capacity is 2,268 kilograms) or chew up a rock-strewn trail to get to the fishing lodge, the 4Runner would be on the short list. But, with the current crop of aforementioned car-like crossovers now dominating the suburban landscape, I had forgotten what rugged felt like. The 4Runner was a reminder and, frankly, it felt old.

The big Toyota is mega-macho. It’s heavy-duty inside and out (despite the accumulation of almost $12,000 worth of Limited package items, most designed to add a modicum of civility to the truck). So, yes, all the power doodads were present, as were heated, leather-clad power seats, sunroof, upgraded audio system, voice-activated navigation system, running boards, extra chrome, etc., etc. While more than a few creature comforts were appreciated on the run to Motor City — heated seat set on max and Underground Garage blasting out of the 15 speakers is not the worst way to stave off creeping boredom — they can’t mask the sheer ponderousness of the beast.

It’s not that the 4Runner doesn’t try. The 4.0-litre DOHC V6 under the hood is mated to a five-speed automatic and full-time (with the Limited package) four-wheel drive. It churns out a credible 270 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and usable 278 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm. But the truck is pushing a lot of air and carrying a lot of weight — 2,184 kilograms in the case of the Limited. If you shove the gas pedal into the firewall, it will respond with a lot of roaring and a decent launch to 100 kilometres an hour of just less than nine seconds. Pulling a passing move around the multitude of rigs snaking along the 401 isn’t bad, either — 6.6 seconds to hit 120 from 80 kilometres an hour. Under partial throttle, though, the Toyota is lethargic, and rather noisy to boot. Neither is fuel efficiency its forte, despite the inclusion of a dash-mounted eco meter. My run to the border and back consisted of about 90% highway cruising (at 2,000 rpm, or 113 km/h according to the speedo) and 10% in-city, so I was hoping for a better result than the 13 litres per 100 km I achieved. (Toyota has pegged the truck’s city/highway fuel efficiency at 11.2 L/100 km.)

Considering the 4Runner’s hardy nature, it’s not surprising the ride was just a tad choppy. No doubt a few extra bodies aboard would settle things. Likewise, the 20-inch tires, which look good on the rig, help deaden the steering. And there was just a little more travel to the brake pedal than I liked. Clearly, the 4Runner is set up with hauling in mind, not just as mere highway transportation.

As with every new Toyota, the 4Runner comes with the six active safety technologies of the Star Safety System — ABS, brake assist, electronic brake- force distribution, vehicle stability control, active traction control and Smart Stop Technology. Additional handling and control technologies include hill-start assist control and downhill assist control.

Inside, one is presented with a big, chunky steering wheel and, next to it, a big, blocky centre stack with well-marked big knobs and buttons for the various functions. Continuing the theme, a big, chunky shift lever protrudes from the slotted gates in the centre console. The seats, which allow for a commanding view of the road ahead, are designed for those broad of beam and proved quite comfortable on the journey.

Undoubtedly, there is still some need for a heavy-duty sport-ute like the 4Runner. With that said, it is a diminishing market, one that has been handily supplanted by more user friendly and fuel efficient — if less robust — crossovers. Cross-town rival Nissan recently saw the light and reworked its formerly brawny Pathfinder ute into a lighter-duty crossover. It wouldn’t surprise me to see a similar fate for the Toyota.